At the time of Proposal 3's passage, the state constitution provided that municipal indebtedness resulting from the construction or maintenance of sewer facilities could excluded from the constitutional debt limits of those municipalities for ten years. Originally implemented in 1962, the provision was renewed every decade since. With the approval of Proposal 3, the provision was extended until January 1, 2024.[3]

Ballot summary

The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution would extend for ten years, until January 1, 2024, the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to exclude from their constitutional debt limits indebtedness contracted for the construction or reconstruction of sewage facilities. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
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Constitutional changes

E. Indebtedness contracted on or after January first, nineteen hundred sixty-two and prior to January first, two thousand fourteentwenty-four, for the construction or reconstruction of facilities for the conveyance, treatment and disposal of sewage. The legislature shall prescribe the method by which and the terms and conditions under which the amount of any such indebtedness to be excluded shall be determined, and no such indebtedness shall be excluded except in accordance with such determination.

Supporters

Arguments

League of Women Voters listed the following supporting argument: "Concerns addressed in 1963 and by subsequent extensions of the amendment are still valid today. Although many pollution problems have been abated, new technologies allow for more efficient systems, development requires the construction of new systems and existing treatment plants age, requiring repair and reconstruction. The measure would allow municipalities to address sewage needs without impairing their ability to finance other needs."[8]

Opposition

Media editorial positions

Support

Adirondack Daily Enterprise said, "Vote yes to Proposal 3, which would continue letting municipalities exclude sewer system rebuilding costs from their constitutional debt limits... Sewer systems are essential, and no one wants them to fail."[9]

Albany Times Union said, “Proposal 3 would give municipalities until 2024 to upgrade. A Hudson River that's periodically inundated with sewage needs people to vote "yes" on this amendment.”[10]

Livingston County News said, “A vote yes will assure New Yorkers that we will maintain our commitment to clean water and sewage free rivers.”[11]

New York Times said, "And another would sensibly extend to 2024 the ability of communities to exclude the debt incurred on the construction of sewers from their constitutional debt limits."[12]

The Observer said, “The proposition is a sign that state officials realize many areas throughout the state have significant sewer work that needs to be undertaken - including Chautauqua County - and that having that work count against the constitutional taxing limits would hinder sewer projects from being completed.”[13]

Post Star said, “We recommend a yes vote on Prop. 3, on the grounds that, with the state tax cap in force and revenues depressed statewide, municipalities would be unable to bear any extra pressure on their budgets.”[14]

Watertown Daily Times said, "This amendment has worked well since 1962 and needs to be extended for another 10 years. A vote yes will assure New Yorkers that we will maintain our commitment to clean water and sewage free rivers."[15]

Proposal 3 was referred to the ballot after being approved by both houses in successive terms by simple majority. S4065 was approved for a second time by the New York State Senate on May 22, 2013.[16] S4065 was approved for a second time by the New York State Assembly on June 13, 2013, respectively.[5]